Simulated football game apparatus with blocking play control means



June 4, 1968 N. WYLlE 3,386,738

SIMULATED FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS WITH BLOCKING PLAY CONTROL MEANS FiledMarch 10, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIQZ .Tlvvzuroe NEWTON WYLIE W /WWArromvsv June 4. 1968 N. WYLIE 3,386,738

SIMULATED FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS WITH BLOCKING PLAY CONTROL MEANS FiledMarch 10, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet z mm WITH? 0 '0 o o o o .1 I llllllllll gFICLIS F|c.|5 FIG. FICJB F|c.|9 Hell] I I I C].

SCOREBOARD 4a 49 EIEJ 1: HOME g E 2 DOWN E fvvzm'op NEWTON WYLIE June 4.1968 N. WYLIE 3,386,733

SIMULATED FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS WITH BLOCKING PLAY CONTROL MEANS FiledMarch 10, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I/vvE/vroe NEWTON WYLIE WWKWM 41m INEVJune 4, 1968 N. WYLIE 3,386,738

SIMULATED FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS WITH BLOCKING PLAY CONTROL MEANS FiledMarch 10, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F1024 F|c.25

flvvenrbn NEW TON WYLIE A-rronuev 3,386,738 SIMULATED FOOTBALL GAMEAPPARATUS WITH BLOCKEJG PLAY CONTROL MEANS Newton Wylie, 506 KirkrnoreDrive, New Haven, Ind. 46774 Filed Mar. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 438,695 1Claim. (Cl. 273-131) ABSC'I OF THE DISCLOSURE Football game whichclosely resembles the execution and strategy of an actual game offootball, including a game board which is laid out in the form of afootball field, playing pieces, identification cap members and a movecounter which keeps track of the playing sequence and order of play. Thecounter determines the point at which blocked players can resume play,and the sequence in which certain plays must be completed.

The counter is provided with two rows of pegs which are visuallydistinguished from each other, a recess having bicolored areas beingdisposed between the two rows of pegs with each area in alignment withone peg in each row. A slide is movable in the recess to cover oruncover said areas. A number of colored cap members are provided to beplaced on the game pieces or on the pegs.

This invention relates to a football game, and more particularly to afootball game which closely resembles the execution and strategy of anactual game of football. There are many games of football which arebased upon chance in the outcome of the game. Such games involveselection of cards, throwing dice, or other random operations which to alarge extent dictate the outcome of the game, or at least interfere withthe operation of skill and understanding of the game of football. Suchgames, while interesting and serving as diversion, do not measure thefootball playing ability of the players.

Also, these prior chance games, in addition to introducing the elementof chance, fail to take into account the variety and unexpectedness thatcan occur in the order and kind of signal calling on the part of askillful quarterback, particularly one who knows how to deploy his menand how to respond to many different playing situations which occurduring a football game.

It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of the present inventionto provide a football game in which the players have a maximumopportunity to exercise their knowledge and experience of football underactual playing conditions so that the game is generally won by theplayer exhibiting superior judgment and superior skill and knowledge ofthe game in the various playing situations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a footballgame which provides the players with a variety of different playingexperiences, including field goals, blocking, passing, running and, inshort, embodying virtually all of the known football plays and therebycalling upon the players to exhibit a maximum of their footballknowledge and playing experience and pitting it against thecorresponding knowledge of the opp nent in order to win the game.

It is another object of the present invention to provided a plurality ofgame pieces which are organized into two opposing teams, includinglinemen, ends and backs which are free to carry out their footballplaying assignments, including blocking, tackling, running and passingin order to carry on the game under closely simulated conditions ofactual football play. In keeping with this object, there are retainedthe actual conditions of football scoring, downs and yardage, and theboard for the game simulates an actual football field including the sidelines, gridiron,

nited States atent C) goal lines and goal posts the same as on a regularplaying field.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a footballgame which is usable not only for those who are already expert in thegame and wish to test their knowledge and experience, but also as ameans for teaching youngsters how to play the game and how to becomefamiliar with the rules of football and how it is played, so that theycan adapt such experience to later years of playing on the footballfield.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom a consideration of the following description which proceeds withreference to the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 illustrates the game board which is laid out in the form of afootball field and shows the lineup of the opposing teams when they areready for kick-off;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a goal;

FIGURE 3 is the yard-marker which shows the progress of the ball duringa series of plays of one team or the other;

FIGURE 4 is a marker for the downs and is used in combination with theyardage indicator of FIGURE 3 which in regular play consists of a chainof ten yards length;

FIGURES 5 through 9 illustrate the playing pieces, FIGURE 5 illustratingthe linemen, FIGURE 6 the ends, FIGURE 7 the backs, FIGURE 8 thequarterback and FIGURE 9 the kicker;

FIGURE 10 is a circular piece illustrating the football;

FIGURE 11 is the scoreboard showing the down, score and time outs thesame as a regular scoreboard used in a football stadium;

FIGURE 12 is an end view of the scoreboard shown in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a move counter which keeps track of the playing sequenceand order of play, and also determines the point at which blockedplaying pieces can resume play, and the sequence in which certain playsmust be completed, as for example, field goals and passing P y FIGURE 14is a front elevation view of the move counter illustrated in FIGURE 13;

FIGURES 15 through illustrate caps which are provided in six sets ofthree, each set being a different color. Two caps of a set are placed onthe heads of the pair of opposed playing pieces which are involved in ablocking move, with the third cap placed on a peg on the move counter toindicate the move at which the blocked playing pieces will resume play,the six sets of three being mounted upon corresponding six sets of threepegs, in FIGURES 13 and 14, each set being of a different color toprovide for six blocking situations at a time during a given pl-ay;

FIGURE 21 illustrates in enlarged view one of the sequences during agiven play in which a block occurs between opposing pieces at the -yardline at the left hand side of the field;

FIGURES 22 illustrates the direction and amount of movement for alineman;

FIGURE 23 illustrates the direction and amount of movement for thequarterback;

FIGURE 24 illustrates the direction and amount of movement for the ends;and

FIGURE 25 illustrates the direction and degree of movement for thebacks, the quarterback and the kicker.

Game start Referring now to the drawings, the playing pieces areorganized into opposing teams and lined up on the playing field 10(FIGURE 1), the formation of the playing pieces being in accordance withthe preference of the players, the oifensive formation illustratedconsisting of the linemen 12 (FIGURE 5), there being five such linemenon the offensive team which is protecting goal line 14, two offensiveends 16 (FIGURE 6), three backs 18 (FIGURE 7) and one kicker (FIGURE 9).The ball 22 (FIGURE 10) is rested at the forty-five yard line of theoffensive team. The play is initiated by lining the kicking team up ontheir own forty-five yard line, with the receiving team having itslinemen on their forty-five yard line with the ends and backfield of thereceiving team placed between the forty-five and ten yard lines.

To start the game, the offensive or kicking team can place the ball onany square between the kicking teams forty-five yard line and theopposing teams ten yard line. Typically, the receiving team lines itsmen up in a fivetwo-two-two pattern as shown in FIGURE 1 to receive theball. After the ball is placed and thus put into play by the kickingteam, the receiving team may recover but not move the ball for the nextsix moves, and these are recorded by means of a counter 3t (FIGURES l3and 14) which has a series of pegs 31 numbered 1 through 16, at the timeof kickoff peg number 6 being covered with a replica of the football toindicate that six moves are required by each team before the ball can bepicked up and returned.

During kickoff the linemen 12 can move vertically, horizontally ordiagonally (FIGURE 22) up to ten squares in one direction per move afterthe ball has been kicked, and the same movements are permitted for thequaterback (FIGURE 23) and the backfield men (FIG- URE 25). The ends canmove either horizontally or diagonally (FIGURE 24) up to ten squaresafter the ball has been kicked.

During the first six moves the kicking team and receiving team have thepieces moved in order to set up patterns for blocking and tackling theball receiver.

The first move of the game is recorded by uncovering the white rectangleof the counter beside the peg numbered 1. The two sides each move theirrespective pieces in sequence the alloted number of squares, in turn,and as each side moves the slide 32 is moved in sequence to record thenumber of moves by the opposite sides. Thus, the kickoff is the firstmove and the counter slide 32 is moved one space, followed by a move bythe opposite team, slide 32 uncovering the colored space. This procedureis continued until six moves (peg 6) are finished, and the ball can thenbe placed in motion.

During the kickoff plays, any member of the kicking team may gain andretain possession of the ball as long as the kick goes more than tenyards down field U from the point of kicking. The first player on eitherteam to occupy a square where the ball rests gains possession of theball, and the receiving team may, after the number six on the red colorside of the move counter has been uncovered, advance the ball as far aspossible until tackled. After the punt return, the team in possession ofthe ball has a series of four downs to make ten yards or a touchdown,and each down has a number of plays in sequence during which thedefending team attempts to tackle the carrier. These rules follow theconventional football rules governing the kickoff and the ten yard rule,that is, on a kickoff if the ball is kicked a minimum of ten yards downfield from the point of kicking, it becomes a free ball, and any memberof either team may gain and keep possession of the ball. The team inpossession of the ball is given a series of four downs to make ten yardsand can continue its series of downs until a touchdown is made or untilthey fail to make the necessary yardage. On failing to make thenecessary yardage, the team must kick or lose possession of the ballwhich is given over to the other team, the same as in regular footballplay.

Any team which feels that it cannot gain the necessary yardage on fourthdown can use the last down to kick the ball to the other team, which iscommonly done also in regular play, depending on where the ball isdowned.

Blocking During each play, including during kickoff, the simulatedplayers can tackle and block, a blocking operation occurring when oneplayer pushes another player one square in the direction that he (theblocker) is moving, either forward, sideways or diagonally. Blocking maynever occur from behind. At the start of the game, all of the simulatedplayers face the line of scrimmage, and as the game progresses, playersmust face in the direction in which they are moving, blocking beingpermitted only from the direction that the player is facing, or fromeither side. When it is not possible to push an opponent one squarebecause the square is occupied by another player, the team wishing toblock can indicate a block by saying block. When a block occurs, thehead of each of the playing pieces is covered by the same color cap 36from one of the six sets of three caps (FIGURES 15-20), and the thirdidentical colored cap is put on one of the pegs 1-16 three pegs ahead ofthe move counter slide 32 so that during the next three moves bothpieces are considered out of the game. For example, if the slide 32 isat move white 8 (FIGURE 13) and a block occurred at the eighth move,then the cap is fitted over peg white 11, for example, a red cap (FIGURE15), and the two blocked pieces, each of which also contains a red cap,are out of the game between moves 8 and 11 and as such are not free toperform any further plays.

It is one of the functions of the move counter 3th to record theoccurrence of blocks, and, also, as the slide moves into registry withthe peg having a third cap as the block indicator, it indicates releaseof the blocked players to resume play. There are six sets of caps torecord six blocks, this bein more than ample since after the third movethe blocked pieces are returned to play by removing their caps andreplacing the caps 36 on the pegs The series eventually terminates withthe end of a down and all blocked pieces are returned to play. After theseries of moves which permits the blocked pieces to resume play, or atthe end of a down, the colored caps 36 are removed from the heads of thepieces and from the counter peg 31 and returned to the storage pegs 40on the move counter 39 (FIGURES 13, 14).

Tackling and strategy Skill in the football game is exhibited by howwell the re ceiving team deploys the simulated players, bringing theminto defensive positions to block the tacklers of the kicking team, and,on the other hand, by how well the kicking team avoids blocks andquickly deploys the pieces into tackling positions so that the receivingsimulated player is tackled immediately upon gaining possession of theball following the s'nrth move. If possible, the kicking team attemptsto secure possession of the ball by moving a player onto the squareoccupied by the ball before the receiving team.

A tackle occurs if the ball carrier moves in such a manner that anopposing piece is in any touching square, or if an opposing piece ismoved into any square which touches that of the ball carrier. When aball carrier is tackled, play resumes at the point where the tackleoccurred. On all kickofis, the ball is put into play midway between theside lines on the forty-five yard line of the kicking team with theirmen spread out on this line as shown in FIGURE 1. The pieces, accordingto their kind, are allotted the direction and number of movementsindicated in FIGURES 22-25 with the receiving team, Whose moves arerecorded on the red side on move counter 31), having the second move andwith the two teams alternately moving so that the slide 32 of thecounter 30 is moved after each move and uncovers successive colorsquares.

Assuming that the kickoff has not been returned for a touchdown, theball is put into play where the offensive player has been tackled. Whenthe ball is put into play, it is placed at least seven squares from theside line; the yard-marker 43 (FIGURE 3) is located with one marker atthe line of scrimmage and the other marker ten yards down field. Thefield down-marker -42 (FIGURE 4) indicates the downs on the field, andanother down marker 44 is used on the scoreboard 46 (FIGURE 11).

Regular play The ball is then put into play starting with a series ofdowns, and play may include any of the conventional plays, includingrunning, passing or lateralling. The offensive team (upper team, FIGURE21) which is in possession of the ball sets its men with the usual sevenpieces (five linemen and two ends) at the line of scrimmage, and thequarterback 71 is located at least one square behind the linemen, andthe backfield men are located anywhere behind the line of scrimmage.When all of the of fense men have been placed in position, the team onoffense says set; now the defending team locates its pieces in adefensive pattern. When the defending team is ready to proceed withregular play, the ball is placed over the head of the offensivequarterback or on a square in front of the kicker, if it is a kickingplay, and this indicates that play has begun. From this point on, eachmove is regisetered on the counter 36, the slide 32 uncovering first theWhite and then the red block for each move 1 through 16, the slide 32being then returned to 1. The purpose of the slide is to keep account ofthe number of moves and the order of the moves, and it has a furtherfunction to keep track of how long blocked pieces are kept out of playand at which move they ar returned to play. During the play, theopposing simulated players will perform the usual blocking and tacklingassignments, ball-running and passing assignments and defenses againstsuch offensive movements according to the skill of the opposing players.The blocking assignments are performed by moving an offensive piece ontothe square of a defensive piece, as for example, a block which will nextbe described with reference to FIGURE 21.

Referring to FIGURE 21, the offensive back 50 starting from square 52 ismoved diagonally (FIGURE three squares, pushing defensive lineman piece54 back one square in the same line; and to signify that a block hasbeen made, the head of each piece is covered with a cap of the samecolor and taken from the pegs 4t and the third cap is then set over oneof the pegs numbered 1 through 16 of the move counter 3t) three movesfrom the current move as previously described. Play continues with eachplayer making successive moves, and after each move, counter is moved tokeep track of each move, both the sequence and the number. Playcontinues until the ball carrier is either tackled or makes a score. Thetackling occurs by either the ball carrier moving in such manner that anopposing piece is in any touching square or an opposing piece moving toany touching square adjacent to the ball carrier. After a ball carrieris tackled, play resumes at the point where the tackle occurs, and adown is recorded or a new series of downs is started if the player hasmade the necessary ten yard gain.

Passing The oifensive player can execute passing to an end or backfieldman who is not more than fifty yards down field from the square occupiedby the passer. A forward pass is a move, and the offensive team haseight moves to strategically place the men and to throw a pass either toa receiver or to an open square. The move counter records the pass playstarting from the first move and keeps track of the fact that the passmust be completed within the requisite eight moves. The Word pass isprinted on the white square number 8 on the move counter. If the ball isplaced on an open square the defensive team has the first move towardthe ball, but it must be picked up by either team within two moves. Thisis indicated by placing a replica of the ball on a peg two numbershigher 6 on the white side. If the ball is not picked up by the timethis number is uncovered the pass is incomplete, and the next down willstart at the line of scrimmage where the play originated. On pass plays,the pass must be made to the receiver within the first eight moves orthe ball placed on an open square.

A pass is intercepted when it is thrown to an open square which iscovered by an opponent within two moves or when an opposing piece ismoved onto a touching square lying between the potential receiver andthe line of scrimmage. Any piece which is a defensive piece canintercept the ball, and at the time of interception the ball goes overto the defensive team. During a passing play, a potential pass receivermay not be blocked beyond one square down field from the line ofscrimmage.

Either the quarterback or any of the other backs can execute a pass or ahandoff. A handoif is executed by any back moving within a squaretouching the square occupied by the quarterback, and he is entitled toreceive the ball and not be charged for the move to transfer the ball,the handoff being executed at any time in conjunction with the move.

Laterals A lateral pass can be executed at any time by passing the ballbackwards to any piece not more than twenty yards (eight squares) fromthe square occupied by the passer. A lateral pass is, however,considered to be a move.

Scoring When a touchdown is scored, the scoring team is given sixpoints, and a touchdown occurs by a player crossing the other teams goalline or catching a pass behind the opposing teams goal line.

Following a touchdown, there is a conversion effort giving one point fora kick, pass or carrying the ball over the goal line in one play. Ifplaying American League or college football teams, two points are givenfor passing or carrying the ball over the goal line in one play.

Exchanging the ball If the offensive team has not been able to make thenecessary yardage within three downs, then at fourth down a puntingsituation may be called for, at which time a punt can be executed or afield goal can be attempted. On any kind of kick, such as field goals,punting or conversion, a replica of the ball is placed on No. 4 peg onthe white side of the move counter. The ball is first placed on thesquare immediately in front of the kicker on a kicking play, and if forfour moves the ball or kicker is not blocked, then the kick issuccessful. During a punting situation, the punting team may place theball on any open square down field as long as it is not further thanfifty-five yards (twenty-two squares) from the space occupied by thekicker. When a receiver of a kick is tackled behind his goal line or theball is downed behind the goal line, play starts forthe receiving teamwith the first down at its twenty yard line. The kick can be blocked ifan opposing piece is moved onto the square occupied by the ball or if apiece blocks the kicker by pushing him one square before the white No. 4on the move counter is uncovered. The team blocking the kick gainspossession of the ball and a first down at the point where the kick isblocked. Kicking play is also used for a field goal, and a field goalmay be kicked when the goal 41 is not more than thirty yards (12squares) from the line of scrimmage. The ball 22 (FIGURE 10) is placedon a square five squares behind the line of scrimmage immediately infront of the kicker for four moves, and if the defending team isunsuccessful in blocking the kick in the manner previously described, itis a field goal and the kicking team is awarded three points.

Following a touchdown, the team making the touchdown lines up in frontof the goal line two and a half yards or one square in front of the goalline, and if the team is successful in kicking a field goal type kick aspreviously described over the goal line in one play, then the conversioneffort is successful, and the kicking team is given one point.Alternatively, the team which has scored the touchdown may attempt arunning or passing play which, if successfully completed in one play,also entitles the team to one point. If playing American League orcollege football teams two points are given for taking this alternative.

Safety Whenever any team is tackled behind its own goal line afterhaving carried the ball or after putting the ball into play behind itsown goal line, two points are awarded to the defending team, and theteam scored on kicks off from its own twenty yard line.

The scores and the downs are recorded at 48 and 44 on the scoreboard(FIGURE 11), and wheels 49 (FIG- URE 12) are provided for changing thescore, The scoreboard (FIGURE 11) is for keeping track of the score andthe downs as well as the time out periods.

Time periods There is a time limit for the play, the same as in regularfootball play, and the time limit can be agreed upon in advance of thegame, each half being anywhere from one-half to one or two hours. Theperiod of time between the moves is also agreed upon in advance; asuggested period for setting the men for each play is about one minute.A player who exceeds the agreed time limit for making a move ispenalized by the loss of that move. The team which exceeds the agreedtime limit for setting up the men is penalized by a loss of five yards(2 squares). Each team may call for a time out of a few minutes durationfor each half hour of a half period, either before or after both teamsare set for play. For example, if the agreed time limit for a halfperiod is an hour, each team may take two time outs. The maximum numberof time outs per team in one half is four.

General provisions Each team is permitted only one move at a time. Ifthe team on offense chooses to forfeit a move, they may so indicate bysaying pass. On a field goal or conversion try, the team on offense maynot wish to make a move, but nevertheless is always charged with havingmade such a move. In each series of plays, if the team in possession ofthe ball has successfully move the ball ten yards in four downs, theyare always given another series of four downs. This is repeated untilthe team scores or fails to make the necessary yardage. The teaminitiating a down always puts the ball in play at least seven squaresfrom the side line.

Game objective The object of the game is to move the ball down field toscore points, six points being for a touchdown, one point for aconversion, or two points if playing American League or college footballteams and a running or passing play is selected, two points for a safetyand three points for a field goal, with the team scoring the most pointswinning the game.

The outcome of the game depends upon the skill of the players. It ispossible, with the play described, to use the rules of the NationalFootball League, American Football League, or College Football Leagueteams, and the men can be painted and numbered to represent the teams ofthe individual players choice.

Two or more players can play. With two players, each player runs oneteam; with four players, each team has two players, one player runningthe offense, the other player running the defense; and, if desired,additional players can be provided to move the yard markers, the downindicators, the move counter, the scoreboard, etc.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described inconnection With one exemplary embodiment of the invention, it will beunderstood that this is illustrative of the invention and is by no meansrestrictive thereof. It is reasonably to be expected that those skilledin the art can make numerous revisions and variations of the invention,and it is intended that such revisions and variations will be includedwithin the scope of the following claims as equivalents of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A football game apparatus comprising a playing board having afootball field displayed thereon, a plurality of game pieces which aresimulated linemen, ends, backfield players including a quarterback and aball, counter means comprising a base member having two parallel rows ofpegs mounted thereon, the two sets of pegs being visuallydistinguishable from each other, a recess formed in said member betweensaid row of pegs, a plurality of bi-colored areas arranged in a seriesat the base of said recess, the colors alternating longitudinally ofsaid rows of pegs, each area being aligned with one peg in each row, aslide movable in said recess to expose said areas successively, aplurality of sets of cap members adapted to be placed either on thepieces or on said pegs, each set comprising three identically coloredcap members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,822 8/1905 Darius 273-841,654,582 1/1928 Devine 273-94 2,044,506 6/ 1936 Lundguist 273-942,052,035 8/1936 Potter 273-94 2,069,514 2/1937 Wylie 273-94 2,075,1523/1937 Welna 273-94 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

